Most of my life I have created artwork of one type or another.  While most of that work has never seen the light of day, Wolves have repeatedly appeared in my sketches and other creative work whether it was just for me or intended for a wider audience.  In retrospect. Wolf has also clearly guided many of the choices I have made in my life outside of art.  When hiking in deep wilderness areas I have often become aware of Wolf's presence.

As a result of a life long set of experiences involving Wolf, often without any conscious intent on my part, I decided to make the capstone project of my creative life a truly deep dive into all the aspects of Wolf.  The 77 Wolves Project is the ongoing result.

77 WOLVES PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The 77 Wolves Project has been evolving in my mind and work for awhile and the project is really starting to take off - concepts, artwork, music, and most importantly the growing Pack - All of you!

As you read through this page you will realize there are a LOT more than 77 pieces of Wolf art being generated in this project... I have probably passed that number on the way to this point just in the preparation phases.  So, what does the 77 mean?

77 Aspects of Wolf:  The 77 refers to the number of Aspects of Wolf I am diving deep into for this project.  Throughout all of the pieces of the project the Aspect is either the full title (as in the case of the musical pieces) or the first part of the title for the visual art pieces.

Each of these Aspects is being explored through four visual arts series and one musical series.  Each of these five series represents the ultimate creative exploration of each of the 77 Aspects of Wolf.  Each of the Aspects represents some fundamental part of what it means to be Wolf, not the physical parts of Wolf and Wolf's Environment.  Each Aspect's name is a verb, implying action and the thoughts, feelings, motivations, and spirit of Wolf revealed in those actions.

The five series approach the Aspects of Wolf using different media (four of them visual and one aural).  These are intended to approach each Aspect using five creative perspectives to assist in exploring the Aspect as deeply and widely as can be done from one creative mind.  The Pack (You) are also involved in how this project evolves.

Pencil or Charcoal Drawings:  These are the concept explorations for the other visual media.  The concepts that make it far enough along to have something interesting to contribute to the project appear in these pieces (see the Embryonic Series section below for more details).  These put the foundations of the project out front before additional layers and components are added to the drawings chosen for further development.  Some of these pieces capture my attention but have not yet, or possibly won't be, developed any further.  Sometimes this level of development is the main expression.

Picture Needed Here

Conte Crayon Paintings:  These start as intimate 3.5 inch by 3.5 inch single panel works on a mini easel.  This series evolves to larger multi-panel pieces (see the Evolutions Series section below for details).  These are for those who want to be involved directly in the project through helping determine which initial miniature single panel pieces get to evolve.  Conte Crayon is a unique medium most similar to a hard pastel.

Digital Paintings:  The digital paintings are created in a very high resolution file allowing for sharp large metal prints (the primary intended mode of reproduction).  These are executed in very limited palettes or subtle color with fine details left to the viewer to fill in from their own spirit.  The digital paintings have their own distinctive highly layered look very different than the conte crayon or pencil/charcoal pieces.  See the Ephemeral Series below for more information and the Series using these pieces.

Ink and Metal:  The series using inks and metal flakes (gold, silver, copper primarily) is created in a pointillistic style and are typically the most strongly colored of the media approaches being used in the 77 Wolves project.  The Originals of these many layered pieces are built from many layers of metal flakes and transparent ink dots slowly building the final deep image.  Please see the Elemental Series below for more about how these pieces are involved in the overall project.  Here is an example of the style, at the time of this writing this Series has not had any pieces finished in the 77 Wolves project.  They are coming soon!

Music:  The decision to add original music compositions to the project added the aural and time components to the project.  The songs that have lyrics also add a linguistic/poetic component.  These are created both to accompany a visual art piece or an entire Aspect as well as to stand alone as a piece of music worthy of repeated experience.  The combination of deeply absorbing the artwork while listening to the music in a contemplative, meditative, or shamanic state leads concurrently to the greatest depths and heights the project can help achieve.

77 WOLVES SERIES DETAILS:

There are 77 Aspects of Wolf being explored in this project.  Each of them having multiple pieces created in media detailed above.  Over time each of the 77 Wolf Aspects is developing into a collection.  The name of the Collection is the name of the Aspect being explored in that collection.  The examples of the collections are such titles as Gather, Greet, Sing...  They will be revealed as the first Wolf for each collection comes into being.

EMBRYONIC SERIES:

The pencil or charcoal sketches/drawings in the Embryonic Series is where I work up the more successful concept sketches into stronger drawings.  These are the launch point for the Wolves in all the other Series and their influence and foundation can be found throughout the project.  These are the pieces that come from the initial raw ideas that can find their way to physical expression and represent the closest connection to the thoughts, emotions, impressions, and visions that push themselves, at least in part, into conscious awareness.

EVOLUTIONS SERIES:

The Conte Crayon paintings are going through a series of Evolutions over the coming years.  This Series is the original organizing idea and approach of the 77 Wolves project and is experiencing the most iterations (Evolutions) throughout the project.

Evolution 00:  These are the single panel (3.5 inches by 3.5 inches) on mini easels.  In this foundational level of the project many compositions and color schemes are being explored for each of the 77 Wolf Aspects.  These small, intimate exploratory pieces are ideal for shrines and altars to Wolf as well as unobtrusive placements throughout your home and workplace... wherever you would like your chosen Wolf or Wolves to be nearby.

This stage is not really an evolution but rather the development of the raw materials for the remaining evolutions sprouting from the pieces in the Embryonic Series.  The single panel Evolutions Series wolves are the ones that will advance through the other Evolutions in accordance with their adoption by all of you... The Pack.

Evolution 01:  This Evolutions occurs on the most popular Evolution 00 Wolves according to The Pack... all the Collectors in the 77 Wolves project.  The Evolution 01 Wolves are 7-Panel Wolves (each panel is 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches and together are hung as one image).  While the individual panels are squares the assemblage of all of them does not typically remain in a square shape.  The outline of the finished image is dictated by the needs of the evolving Wolf.  While not identical to the single panel piece it evolved from the composition, color scheme, and title will recognizably be a growth from the piece it evolved from with additional detail and components added.

For the remaining Evolutions, the popularity with The Pack of each Evolution determines which Wolves keep evolving through the remaining stages.  Each of the Evolutions adds more of the same sized panels to an ever more detailed Wolf in a more developed environment.  As with the first evolution, the entire line will remain recognizable as further development of the same concept as the prior Wolf in the line and having the same title with a growing number of component panels.

Evolution 02:  14-Panel Wolves

Evolution 03:  21-Panel Wolves

Evolution 04:  28-Panel Wolves

Evolution 05:  35-Panel Wolves

Evolution 06:  42-Panel Wolves

Evolution 07:  49-Panel Wolves

Evolution 08:  56-Panel Wolves

Evolution 09:  63-Panel Wolves

Evolution 10:  70-Panel Wolves

Evolution 11:  77-Panel Wolves

FINALE:

For Wolves that reach Evolution 11 and remain popular with The Pack, the Finale is triggered.  This is a final 777-Panel piece incorporating all that was learned and developed through all the Evolutions of this Wolf, all the feedback received from the Pack, and any additional elements determined by this Wolf.  These pieces are the ultimate goal of the project and I am excited to be walking down this particular road with all of you!

As an additional exciting benefit to the Pack, anyone who purchased anything in the line of a particular Wolf that makes it to this Finale stage will get their name immortalized on the back of this 777-Panel Wolf!  This benefit is only available until the Finale Wolf is triggered.  Purchases after that point cannot include this benefit as the Finale piece will be committed at that point and further names cannot be included.  Please note there is no guarantee any particular Wolf will reach this Finale stage but if it does it will be because of people like you along the way!  Don't wait to support this project by purchasing your favorite Wolf or Wolves.  Your support of the project in general and this Wolf in particular is recognized right on the final piece.  Thank You!

EPHEMERAL SERIES:

The single panel digital paintings are explorations of very high resolution paintings combined with very low resolution techniques in layers.  The building of the layers creates the desired paintings that are concurrently very sharp, layered, and yet remain open to the viewer to weave their own imagery into the piece due to the splattered technique leaving a lot of the image construction up to the viewer's mind, preferences, experiences, and spirit.

ELEMENTAL SERIES:

The ink and metal flake paintings are presented as a personal favorite technique of the artist from past portrait projects, tying this project with prior work and projects.  The combination of layered pointillism, use of metal flakes (gold, silver, copper), and strong color creates powerful paintings alive with movement and color.  The interplay of the colors in the inks and the texture and reflectance of the metal flakes floating in their layers creates paintings of great energy.

How long will the 77 Wolves Project last?

The answer to this was foreshadowed at the beginning of this page.  77 Wolves is the capstone of my art career.  I will be creating and evolving these Wolves until I retire from my a creative career (most likely when I go to fully and permanently join Wolf in the spirit world).  This is a true Labor of Love and will not stop until I stop working on anything.

I have nothing left in my bucket list that I want to accomplish other than development of this deep dive Wolf project.  I have led a truly awesome life so far and for that I am grateful for Wolf's continual presence and guidance.  My life long friend and mate has passed away and this project honors her more than you (or I) will ever fully understand.  I am near retirement from my job and it is time to get laser focused on this last phase of my productive time in this earthly form.  In a nutshell, there is little left to draw my attention away from the 77 Wolves.

That is my commitment to Wolf and to Pack.

Are you Wolf?  Join the Pack!

David Herman - Artist:  Celebration of Life Eternal, LLC